Refreshing Cocktails and Light Bites for Summer Entertaining

Layered Lounge
2025-06-23T00:00:00+01:00

Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family, enjoying long evenings, warm breezes and of course, delicious food and drinks. Whether you're hosting a garden party or a casual get-together, having a few go-to cocktails and light bites can make entertaining effortless and enjoyable.

Here’s how to keep your summer entertaining stylish, refreshing and relaxed.

Sip in Style: Easy Summer Cocktails

Kick off your summer gathering with impressive cocktails that are light, fruity and refreshing - sure to delight your guests!

1. Lemon Gin Rickey

What you will need:

3 ounces Seedlip Gin

4 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons honey

4 ounces seltzer water

2 wedges of lemon

Method:

Pour the gin, lemon juice and honey over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake!

Strain into two glasses filled with ice.

Top with seltzer.

Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon.

This elegant mocktail is perfect for impressing guests, especially non-drinkers or designated drivers who still want to enjoy the sophistication of a classic serve.

Pour into our beautiful Tejo Highball Tumblers for an effortlessly elevated look.

2. Hugo Spritz

Ingredients

1/2 ounce St-Germain

1 sprig mint

4 ounces prosecco, chilled

1 ounce soda water, chilled

Garnish: mint sprig and lemon wheel

Method:

Add the St. Germain and mint sprig into a wine glass.

Gently muddle and let sit for 3 minutes.

Add ice, prosecco and soda water and stir briefly and gently to combine.

Garnish with a mint sprig and a lemon wheel.

The Hugo Spritz is the ultimate sunny-day sip - bubbly, botanical and beautifully easy to love.

Want to impress? Serve it up in our Douro Wine Glasses - it’s all in the details.

3. Cherry Martini

What you will need:

90 ml cherry liqueur/cherry brandy

270 ml vodka

270 ml cherry juice

3 tsp lemon juice

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.

Strain into glasses.

A timeless cocktail with a cherry-kissed twist - perfect for sipping in style.

Best served in our Tejo Cocktail Glasses for a sleek, bar-worthy finish.

4. Dark and Stormy

Ingredients:

2 ounces Goslings Black Seal rum

1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

Ginger beer, to top (about 5 ounces)

Garnish: lime wheel

Method:

Add rum and lime juice to a tall glass filled with ice.

Top with the ginger beer.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

This timeless blend of dark rum and ginger beer is effortlessly cool and endlessly sippable.

Serve over ice in our Tejo Highball Tumblers for a modern twist on this classic cocktail.

Summer Entertaining Recipes

Now that you have the perfect cocktails to serve this summer, all you need now is some delicious food to accompany your drinks.

1. Grazing Board

When assembling the perfect grazing board, it is important to follow the 3-3-3-3 rule - this ensures your board has a good balance of flavours and textures.

3 Cheeses:

Brie

Aged Cheddar

Goat’s Cheese

3 Meats:

Prosciutto

Salami

Chorizo

3 Starches:

Sourdough slices

Rosemary crackers

Mini breadsticks

3 Accompaniments:

Fresh grapes

Almonds or walnuts

Fig jam

Serve on our Vintage Oval Board for a beautifully rustic presentation that brings the whole spread together.

2. Caprese Skewers

Ingredients (makes 20 skewers)

20 cherry tomatoes

20 mini mozzarella balls

20 fresh basil leaves

Olive oil, salt and pepper to taste

Drizzle: Balsamic glaze

20 mini skewers for assembly

Serve your skewers on our Mini Serving Board for a stylish, rustic display. The natural stoneware enhances the vibrant reds, greens and whites of the skewers - perfect for summer entertaining.

3. Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta

Ingredients:

1 French baguette, sliced into 10 thin rounds

200g fresh strawberries, finely diced

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Small handful of fresh basil, finely sliced

125g ricotta

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt & cracked black pepper, to taste

Balsamic glaze to drizzle

Method:

Lightly brush baguette slices with olive oil.

Toast the bread at 200°C (fan 180°C) for 8–10 minutes.

Mix strawberries, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt and pepper in a bowl.

Stir ricotta with a dash of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Assemble - Spread cheese onto each toasted baguette slice and spoon on the strawberry mixture.

Serve on our Pearl Oval Platter for a beautifully styled look.

Summer Entertaining with Layered Lounge

With refreshing cocktails, flavourful bites and thoughtfully chosen pieces from Layered Lounge, you don’t need extravagance to host beautifully. Let the charm of summer and the ease of elegant tableware guide your gathering - your guests will remember it long after the season fades.

Ready to elevate your summer hosting? Explore our curated collection of serveware and entertaining essentials at Layered Lounge.